How to Babysit 101

     I have watched/babysat kids since....i don't know, a really long time. I've had a an abundance of rather interesting learning experiences. From changing a baby who has, what seems like BLOWN UP in his diaper to drawing super heroes for 3 hours straight. There's been both good days and bad. Somedays when my patience runs low and other days when everything runs smoothly. I've had my share of mess ups where I feel like the worst human alive, but mostly when i look back a lll of it has taught me valuable lessons.

1. Baby's are way easy, they just stink really bad!
2. Try to change them before it gets all over everything they're wearing.
3. When dropping a child off at home, or someone else's house....WATCH and MAKE SURE THEY GET IN.
4. ^thank heavens for neighbors that walk the kid back home and waits till you realize you can't find them.
5. Don't forget you are baby sitting when the child is napping.
6. Kids can only take CHILDREN's medication. (DO NOT OD YOUR LITTLE SISTER)
7. patience is a virtue!
8. to convince a little kid to do something all you need is candy =) or in my nephew's case....x-box.
9. Don't fall asleep while baby sitting, the house will be a disaster.
10. remember that children just don't understand everything and only get mad when necessary.
11. Did I mention patience... =)
12. If a kid isn't scared of anything you have to make up REALLY CRAZY threats in order to convince him "not to do it"
13. Always remember tat stuff is..just stuff. The kid is more important.
14. Apparently style is a big deal for some kids. I wore sweats to nanny one time and the kid said, "you need to get dressed."
"I am dressed", I replied. He then let me know that I looked funny and shouldn't wear that when i come to babysit next. =)
15. time out works.
16. it's amazing how annoying they can be until you think they are gone. Then you'd do anything just to hear them whine again
17. boogers, poop, spit up, and drool are....not that big of a deal.
18. kids pick up on everything...Sorry Holli and Jeff...i didn't mean to create a little singing monster.
19. Play with them, it'll go more smoothly.
20. Last but not least......no matter what they've done, how annoyed they've made you, one hug from them and an "I love you"...all is forgiven.

 Sometimes when I babysit I feel like this song. I've been a child hater for a while and I couldn't understand why I kept babysitting and why I was so good at it...I realized, you love the ones you serve. I love kids. Yeah I may get frustrated and wish that they'd just understand why they can't have more when there's none left or why we can't buy them that really expensive toy...but that is the beauty of child hood. innocense. I think we all need to be more like kids. So forgiving. I don't know how many times I have yelled at my sister and no matter what she still looks up to me and loves me. The biggest thing i've learned through taking care of kids is, I learned what God meant by become like a child. I am entirely grateful for children. We have a HUGE responsibility to raise them and help them become the person they have full potential to be. They are innocent and we so easily take that away. I have found a new love for my job and can't wait to learn from these kids daily.